Prefrailty as a possible correctable risk factor for falls in patients with arterial hypertension: An open, cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND: The study of senile preasthenia gravis as a possible additional risk factor for falls in patients with arterial hypertension (AH) may complement existing ideas in this field.

AIM: To analyze risk factors for falls in patients aged ≥60 years.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: This open single-center, single-stage, continuous method study included 94 outpatient patients (2 men, 92 women) aged 72.0±5.6 years with a history of falls. Physical examination, clinical and biochemical blood tests, screening of senile asthenia (“Age is not a hindrance” questionnaire), risk (get up and go test), and fear of falls (short falls efficacy scale and falls efficacy scale), cognitive functions (Montreal scale of cognitive assessment), and daily monitoring of blood pressure were collected.

RESULTS: Concomitant diseases were registered in 95% of patients, two or more diseases in 88%, and AH in 78%. Orthostatic hypotension was observed in 30% of people with AH. Preasthenia gravis was detected in every third patient who had a history of falls, regardless of the presence or absence of AH (p=0.915). A relationship has been established between probable preasthenia gravis in individuals with AH and the fear of falls (odds ratio [OR] 9.66, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.22–76.77, p=0.032), decreased cognitive function in the MoSa test (OR 4.29, CI 1.65–11.11, p=0.003), and orthostatic hypotension (OR 2.92, CI 1.03–8.32, p=0.045). AH in patients who had a history of falls correlated with reduced functional activity as evidenced by the results of the get up and go test (OR 4.65, CI 1.00–21.63, p=0.050), fear of falls according to the short falls efficacy scale (OR 2.87, CI 1.00–8.21, p=0.050) and falls efficacy scale (OR 5.07, CI 1.08–14.26, p=0.002), and decreased cognitive functions (OR 4.43, CI 1.43–13.11, p=0.009). An association was established between fractures and the number of falls (OR 3.9).

CONCLUSION: Senile preasthenia was associated with predicted risk factors for falls (cognitive decline, fear of falling, and orthostatic hypotension); thus, preasthenia can be considered a possible independent correctable risk factor for falls.